Category: Music

My favorite carol this year is one that few people have heard of and I myself did not know until this advent season. It's title alone sets it apart from the more popular carols, which I love as well. Can you guess which it is? Joy to the World O Come, All Ye Faithful O Little…

In my "Redeeming Culture through Music" class, we were asked the following question: "Which is most important in music: the composer, the performer, or the listener?" The class more or less unanimously expressed that the three persons are equally important. After all, if there is no composer, there is nothing to perform and if there…

I am a pianist, but I have long suffered from stage fright. My junior undergraduate piano recital was yesterday and, true to my philosophy that no art is complete without a proper understanding of other art forms, I used literature such as Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner to create program notes to give greater depth…

Calling all runners and musicians! Thanks to my music history class, I have of late become obsessed with Beethoven's Symphony No. 3 in E-Flat Major, Op. 55, better known as the "Eroica Symphony." "Eroica" means "Heroic" in case you did not figure that out for yourself and this musical adventure is just that: heroic. It…

How painful in cruel irony... That you, though sighted, cannot see: Deafness- not pride- is Beethoven's malady. . This "unlicked bearcub" of a child Was born spirited and wild, Yet yearned to love, kind and mild. . But those called to the highest aims Are ne'er allowed to stay the same: Both blessing and curse shall…

The title of this post is made of two puns, so I'd say it's off to a good start. Today I want to talk about fonts. I know, I sound like Brick Heck from The Middle, but I strongly believe that fonts and type style are crucial to the success of a piece of writing. The other day,…

They say to "write the book you want to read," and so I am. But what does this quippy piece of advice really mean? It might be the explanation for why there are so many copycat books out there. On the other hand, it might be the reason for all of the best books: those…

Dear University and High School, I was fortunate in high school to have had a wonderful arts department. The faculty, students, and facilities were excellent and I was well-prepared to be a college-level musician. Now, I am studying at a conservatory among talented peers under the direction of stellar professors. But something is missing.…

I love children's books: always have, always will. However, so many people pass the age of 12 and think they must "grow up." They somehow rationalize leaving behind the lovely rows of Newberry Medal winners for the cringe-worthy gratuitousness of the "teen paranormal romance" section. When did that even become a section?! Or rather, WHY?! But I…